Easy Eggnog Recipe Trivia

The first recorded use of the word nog comes from the Middle Ages in old England.

Nog referred to the common alcoholic brew of the day, a strong ale consumed by the population in lieu of fouled or tainted water.

No one really knows the origin of eggnog, but we do know over time old English nog was the grandfather of many drinks enjoyed through the centuries in many parts of the world.

Did You Know?

Eggnog is also known as "Egg Flip"!

England's posset, a hot drink made from milk, eggs and whatever spirits were available, is eggnog's closest cousin.

The early English colonists are credited with bringing the drink to the eastern shores of the New World, along with many other culinary wonders that became the backbone of today's American comfort food cuisine.

Eggnog was a frugal way to use and preserve an overabundance of certain foods, eggs from laying hens and milk from cows, which every colonial family kept in the barnyard, prior to the invention of refrigeration.

Rum, the readily available spirit of the day imported from the Caribbean, was the preservative of choice.

A large batch of the eggy brew was stored in root cellars, or down cellar as our colonial ancestors would say, where time and cool temperatures worked their magic.

In the cool darkness it was believed the strong spirits would kill any microbes that might cause foodborne illness and the flavors would meld, yielding a very smooth and creamy mellow drink.

George Washington's Eggnog Recipe

The first noted President of the United States of America, George Washington, popularized eggnog, his favorite drink for celebrating Christmas.

We love chef Alton Brown's take on this traditional American holiday beverage:

"Nutritious and relatively stable, eggnog was our first health drink. If you ask me, sipping it is our patriotic duty."

WARNING!

Consuming Foods Containing Raw Eggs is a Health Risk!

Even though the old English and American colonists used strong spirits for preservation, modern food science has shown that liquor is not an effective agent for killing the microorganisms in raw eggs that cause foodborne illness.

The United States Department of Agriculture--Food and Drug Administration recommends mitigating raw egg health risk by tempering raw eggs to the temperature of 160°F (71°C) to kill the microbes that cause foodborne illness.

Other alternatives are to purchase pasteurized eggs for use in recipes containing raw eggs or to substitute raw egg with an equivalent measure of a pasteurized liquid egg food product.

Note

Instructions for tempering raw egg are built into GlutenFreeHomemade.com's original Easy Eggnog Recipe.

The Trouble with Gluten-free Spirits

For individuals with Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance or Gluten Sensitivity, the alcohols and liquors used in eggnog recipes can pose even more health hazards than raw egg alone.

Below is a discussion about the spirits commonly used in homemade eggnog.

Bourbon and other Whiskey

Bourbon and other whiskey are typically distilled from barley, rye and wheat, all gluten containing grains.

Though some authorities claim the distillation process results in a gluten-free product, others claim traceable amounts of gluten are still measurable in the final distilled product.

Moreover, sometimes the liquor is aged in oak barrels or casks sealed with grain paste usually made from wheat or rye.

Suggested Reading

The sad fact is, bourbon and other whiskey can be labeled and sold as gluten-free while containing more than 20 parts per million of gluten in the final product.

While some people with Gluten Intolerance or Gluten Sensitivity claim they can tolerate bourbon or whiskey labeled gluten-free without any known health problem, those with gluten or grain allergies or Celiac Disease do react.

Therefore, do your due diligence when researching manufacturing processes and risk of cross-contamination from in-field grain through bottling of bourbon and whiskey sporting gluten-free labeling.

Avoid bourbon and whiskey with added coloring and flavoring ingredients as these may contain gluten, which may not be disclosed on the label.

Because the debate over truly gluten-free bourbon or whiskey rages on, and at GlutenFreeHomemade.com we take our responsibility regarding gluten-free health seriously, we have chosen NOT to recommend any bourbon or whiskey brands labeled gluten-free.

Brandy

Brandy is naturally gluten-free, because it is distilled from fermented fruit juices.

However, like every ingredient, be aware of cross-contamination in manufacturing and bottling processes.

Like bourbon whiskey and wine, some brandy may be aged in wooden casks or barrels traditionally sealed with a gluten containing grain paste, usually wheat or rye.

Choose plain brandy.

Avoid colored and flavored brandies as ingredients may contain gluten.

Rum

Rum is made from cane sugar or molasses and is naturally
gluten-free.

However, like every ingredient, be aware of
cross-contamination from in-field grain, manufacturing and bottling.

Use white rum to avoid any possibility of caramel color
gluten contamination and avoid flavored rums as the flavoring ingredients may contain gluten.

Wine and Sherry

Wine is naturally gluten-free as it is made from fermented grapes, as is sherry.

However, like every ingredient, be aware of cross-contamination in manufacturing and bottling.

Like bourbon whiskey and brandy, wine and sherry may be aged in wooden casks or barrels traditionally sealed with a gluten containing grain paste, usually wheat or rye.

There is a growing trend for clean tasting wine and sherry that are aged in stainless steel vats; whenever possible choose these wines to help mitigate gluten cross-contamination.

Avoid wine and sherry with added color or flavoring (and wine coolers) as these ingredients may contain gluten.

Eggnog Culture

The the debut of the film, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, to U.S. movie theaters during the holiday season in 1989, a resurgence of eggnog's popularity ensued well into the 21st century.

To say the movie has since become a Christmas classic is an understatement.

It continues to have wide appeal throughout the following generations.

One might even say it is responsible for the growth of a new eggnog culture.

Who can forget the scene when the characters, Clark Griswold and cousin Eddie, play by renowned comedians, Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid, so masterfully play up the moose mugs movie props filled with boozy eggnog in one of the film's most significant scenes?

Today, replica punchbowls and moose mugs have become traditional Christmas décor across the nation, alongside Nativity scenes, Christmas trees with all the trimmings, Christmas stockings and everything Santa Claus.

Setting the Mood

Decide on a holiday theme.

Put on an ugly Christmas sweater, turn on Christmas music and then decorate the kitchen.

Tie on a Christmas apron, roll up your sleeves and get ready to concoct!

Easy Eggnog Recipe is a vintage classic you're going to love!

Tip

Easy Eggnog Recipe uses egg yolk.

Set aside the separated egg white and store covered in the refrigerator to use later to make other recipes, such as meringue based delights such as meringue cookies or desserts, such as floating island or meringue topped pies.